Munich

Introducing the city

Behind the famed beer culture that surrounds this city, Munich is a thriving, arty and youthful metropolis, much loved by its residents and by the millions of people who visit each year.

We don't know if it has anything to do with the endless supply of beer gardens, the six city breweries or the famous annual Oktoberfest, but Munich topped the Monocle magazine poll of the most liveable city in the world. Yet, if you look past the drinking culture, this Bavarian metropolis has so much more to offer; it's home to high-tech industry, the Bavarian State Opera plus dozens of ski resort nearby.

With a population of just over 1.5 million, Munich is the capital of the German state of Bavaria and is home to global companies such as BMW and Allianz, as well as Germany's most successful football team, Bayern Munich. It provides a smaller and more liveable alternative to Berlin, with a friendly atmosphere sweeping the city streets. That being said, most enjoyment might just come from the bottom of a litre sized glass of local brew when sitting in a Munich beer hall; we're not judging - it's traditional.

October is the best time to visit if you want to enjoy the biggest event of the year in Munich – Oktoberfest. A buzzing atmosphere surrounds shopping centres and Christmas markets in December whereas the summer months are best for chilling in a city park or beer garden.

Although summer temperatures reach an average high of around 24 degrees Celsius, rainfall is common at this time of year and evenings can get chilly. In contrast - because it's only 80 miles to the nearest Alpine ski resort - Munich gets very cold during the winter months. The plus side of this is occasional snowfall, which creates a special vibe around the Christmas markets. Early spring can still be very cold whereas May can see highs of around 18 degrees Celsius. Although rain is common during autumn, it doesn’t stop the tourists flocking to enjoy Oktoberfest. Warm clothes should be packed for every season as cold nights are common all year round.

Travioor top tips

If you’re on a budget, many of the beer gardens allow you to bring your own food if you buy drinks.

The Munich City Tour Card acts as a transport card but also gives you discounts to many museums and attractions. There are also some museums which are free on Sundays.

If you’re in Munich for Oktoberfest, you’ll need to get lederhosenif you want a costume to fit in with the locals and not stick out like a tourist.

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Food and drink

Main Course£10.07 | 12.00 €

3-Course Meal£41.98 | 50.00 €

Cappuccino£2.30 | 2.74 €

Beer£2.94 | 3.50 €

The Scene

From bratwurst to weisswurst, sausages are synonymous with Munich. In local restaurants that serve typical Munich cuisine, expect many meat-based dishes, with veal in particular featuring heavily on menus. On a budget? Local markets such as the Viktualienmarkt are hugely popular with lunching backpackers and thrifty locals.

Although cuisine is valued highly here, Munich is far more famous for its beer culture and selection of incredible drinking gardens and halls. Even better are the six major breweries and the city's annual Oktoberfest, one of the biggest drinking festivals in Europe that attracts beer lovers from across the continent. Not travelling in September or October? Two venues to look out for are Hirschgarten, which is the largest beer garden in the world and Hofbrauhaus, perhaps the most traditional spot for a tipple in the whole of Germany.

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History

Munich’s Story

From 1240, the House of Wittelsbach governed Munich and during this time it became a powerful salt-trading centre. In 1806, it became the capital of the kingdom of Bavaria, then a powerful central European state. It grew steadily in prominence as a cultural and artistic centre, with numerous iconic buildings being constructed throughout the 20th Century. Many were designed to showcase the city's architectural flair and love of design.

However, it’s Munich’s 20th Century history which is most documented. Hitler, who came to power in 1933, set up the HQ of the Nazi party in Munich. As a result much of the city was destroyed in World War II but many of the historic buildings have since been rebuilt. Today, the city it at the forefront of European and global industry and production.

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Language

Hallo | Hello

Danke | Thank you

German

German is the official language of Munich, although English is widely spoken in nearly every restaurant, shop and bar. You can get by with little or no German but if you’d like to learn some basics, we’ve listed some below:

Goodbye: Auf Wiedersehen

Do you speak English?: Sprechen Sie Englisch?

Excuse me: Entschuldigen Sie

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Need to know

+49Dialling Code

112Emergency Services

Get The Low-Down

Tipping is not mandatory and waiters don’t expect it.

Many of the sights and landmarks are close together, so walking or cycling is a good way to get around.

Various group tours can be found around the city if you don’t want to explore alone.

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